Colleges and universities look at several factors when determining eligibility for entrance and financial support, such as grade point average and course selection at the previous institution.
The easiest way to ensure a smooth transition is to begin the transfer process as soon as possible. In your first semester at OCC, begin a dialog with Advising and Transfer Services staff about your goals for transferring.
Transfer Resources
The first step to a successful transfer is to choose a major appropriate to your goals. Meet with an academic advisor in your first semester at OCC to discuss your options. If you are undecided, utilize the resources available to you at the Career Center.
- A.A. and A.S. degrees are designed to transfer
- A.A.S. degrees are not designed to transfer
- Setting/Environment: Are you looking for a traditional college campus, or would you rather attend an institution which is integrated into a city?
- Class Sizes: Is it important to you whether a typical class has 20 or 200 students?
- Faculty Achievements/Qualifications: Would you prefer a research institution which can provide you with research opportunities, or are you looking for an institution where professors are more focused on teaching?
- Social Life: Do you intend to get involved in Greek Life? Do students stay on campus or go off campus on the weekends?
- Safety: Does the institution offer a safe ride program? How safe do students feel on campus?
- Affordability: Can you afford the institution? How much debt are you willing to take on to finance your education?
- Specific Major: Does the institution offer the major or program you want to pursue?
- Graduate/Professional Opportunities: Does the institution offer five-year/combined degree programs?
- Distance from home: Will you need to travel home often? Did you consider travel expenses in your financial picture?
- Extra-curricular activities: Does the institution offer the extracurricular activities you want? Is there an opportunity to create a new club?
- Living arrangements: Are transfer students required to live on-campus? Is there special housing for transfer students? Does the institution offer affinity housing or living-learning communities?
- Career Planning: Does the institution have a career center that will assist you in planning for a career? Will help be available in securing internships and jobs?
Transferring to a university or 4-year college takes time and planning. Speak to an Academic Advisor to create a personal plan transfer plan.
Scholarship is money gifted through an organization, college, or corporation usually for the purpose of paying for a student’s education. There are various types of scholarships available to students to help pay for college. Transfer students can use the following resources to assist them in the process of looking for scholarships:
- Financial Aid Office at Ocean County College
- Financial Aid Office at a 4-year College/University (Merit or Academic)
- Federal Agencies
- State Agencies such as the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority(HESAA)
- U.S. Department of Labor’s Free Scholarship Search Tool
- Reference Librarians at the local or state Library
- Community, Religious, and Civic Organizations or ethnic groups
- Professional Affiliations such as PHI THETA KAPPA
- Corporations and local Businesses
Transfer Advisors can help you access information on two-year and four-year colleges/universities and plan your course of study for a smooth transfer experience. Schedule an appointment with Laura Wills.
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NJ Transfer
New Jersey has a state-wide agreement to assist students with transfer from a community college to a 4-year public institution. Under the Lampitt Law, community college students who complete an AA or AS degree will receive half of the credits needed for graduation with a bachelor’s degree. While the law does not cover New Jersey’s private colleges and universities, many of those institutions have established similar policies that allow community college graduates to transfer with full junior standing. Careful planning is essential for a smooth and efficient transfer experience.
NJ Transfer is an online resource that helps you transfer community college courses in the State of New Jersey. On the website, you can discover:
- Which courses to select at community college
- Which New Jersey four-year colleges offer equivalent courses
- How the courses will satisfy four-year degree requirements
- Where you can transfer your community college courses in New Jersey
- How to contact a New Jersey college or university if you need information about admissions, transferring courses, or transfer recruitment events
- Which professional fields are in high demand in the State, as well as other job opportunities
- The law only covers students who graduate from an AA or AS programs. AAS programs are generally considered to be terminal. These career programs are meant for students to go directly into the workforce upon completion.
- Typically, students will want to match their degree programs (e.g. AA in Liberal Arts to BA in Psychology). When a student changes degree program intentions (BA to BS) after finishing a degree, the law still applies to general education coursework; however, additional courses might be necessary to complete the bachelor’s degree.
- Some majors at the four-year college will take more than an additional two years to complete because the programs require more than 120-128 credits (Architecture and Engineering are two examples.)
- The law does not guarantee acceptance to college. Students must still apply and be granted admission, which can be competitive and require specific coursework and/or GPA (e.g. business, teaching, and engineering, among other programs).
- Meet with an advisor to discuss your goals and the best associate’s degree for you.
- Begin researching institutions.
- Choose courses carefully for your degree program, utilizing NJ Transfer. The “Transfer Programs” function on NJ Transfer is best suited for student planning.
Contact the Ocean County College Academic Advising Office at 732.255.0300 or email Laura Wills, Coordinator of Transfer Services, at lwills@ocean.edu
Visit the NJ Transfer website.
NJ Transfer Tutorials
Students wishing to learn how to find recommended OCC courses for transfer to specific institutions can view the videos below.
Visit the NJ Transfer Tutorials page to view tutorials on additional NJ Transfer functions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Transcript Request – Allows you to send your Official Ocean County College transcripts
Application for Graduation (PDF) – Student must apply to graduate from OCC in the semester prior to their final semester
Transfer College Evaluation Form (PDF) – Helpful in obtaining important information when you are visiting a four-year transfer institution
Transfer College Chart (PDF)– A quick way to review what information you still need to submit with an application
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